Heated debates between Chalabi, Shalan

Concerning the heated debates between the Iraqi defense minister Hazim Shalan and the chairman of the Iraqi National Congress group, Ahmad Chalabi, the latter said that the defense minister (Shalan) took millions of dollars outside Iraqi illegally.

However, an official at the ministry of defense replied to Chalabi's accusations on transferring millions of US dollars to Lebanon by saying that the ministry transferred the hundreds millions of US dollars from the Iraqi central bank to a financial establishment in Beirut in order to buy weapons, noting that the transfer operation was made legally at the knowledge of the Iraqi interim government and the coalition forces.

In an interview with al-Jazeera Shalan said that the Iraqi government will shortly arrest Chalabi over distorting his image and that of his ministry. Shalan added "we will arrest him and hand him over to the Interpol."